DOMINE, QUO VADIS?

The pilgrim's staff fell from Peter's hands to the earth; his eyes wee looking forward, motionless; his mouth was open; on his face were depicted astonishment, delight, rapture.

            Then he threw himself on his knees, his arms stretched forward; and this cry left his lips,—

            "O Christ! O Christ!"

            He fell with his face to the earth, as if kissing someone's feet.

            The silence continued long; then were heard the words of the aged man, broken by sobs,—

            "Quo vadis, Domine?"

(An excerpt from Ch. LXIX, Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz)

            This world-famous question has struck thousands of people, published several books, and even made known adapted plays and films. As for me, it has pulled my understanding out from its very core. Just what does this question mean?

            The first three things that I can associate with this question are uncertainty, hope and obedience.

On Peter's Uncertainty

            Planning to flee from Rome to the Campania, Peter eventually had questions already set on his mind. Perhaps, he was asking himself what he was to do upon arriving there. He might have planned a few things for himself and for his companion, Nazarius. However, the unexpected rendezvous with the Lord changed everything. The question he uttered obviously showed his uncertainness with his journey. He recognized God's interruption with his plans. He knew that God had a better plan for him which he knew not. And this uncertainty led him searching for answers to his doubt and hesitations.

Hope Never Fails

            The question implies faith —a faith that questions would be answered, doubts would be set aside, and hope would come at last. Peter never asked the question to be answered only; he expected far greater things—that despite their fears and doubts, God would still provide His people hope and answers to their prayers; that by His answer, Peter's trust in God would be revived; and that having had faith in God, Peter would follow Him whatever the consequences would be, trusting that God had a better plan for him than he (Peter) think he knew.

            "If thou desert my people, I am going to Rome to be crucified a second time."

Obedience

            Jesus answered Peter with those words above. Peter, with deep contemplation, understood this statement as some kind of a command: Do not abandon my beloved people; take your cross as I have taken mine. Peter, without any hesitation, returned immediately. Through the grace of God, Peter willingly offered his self to God and served both the believers and non-believers in the name of Jesus. In the end, Peter surrendered himself to God even by the pains of dying on the cross upside down. Peter died a martyr's death, defending his faith in God and doing whatever it is that God wanted him to do.

Now We Ask

            What is it for us, then, to understand what such question mean?

          It is for us a new way of deepening more our faith in God. It is for us to understand and trust God's ways more. It is for us to follow His will for us, setting our lives in His own hands. In sum, it is for us to love Him more than we always do. So that whenever we ask Him, "Lord, whither goest thou?" we can expect His answer to be: " To Rome, to be crucified again." And we shall turn back and return to where Christ's heart lies—to His people.

            May God bless us always.

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM